US3761864A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electrical contact and receptacle
Assignee: General Electric Co
•
Filing: 1971-06-29
•
Granted: 1973-09-25
•
Expires: 1991-06-29
Abstract
Abstract An electrical contact is provided capable of numerous make and break electrical connections, which contact has a relatively shallow depth and is adapted to receive an elongated power blade or electrical contact to be gripped. The shallow dimension of the contact is generally normal to the longitudinal axis of the prong to receive power. The contact is preferably formed from a sheet of metal by displacing metal out of the plane of said sheet to serve as contact cams to frictionally engage the power prong. The cam makes contact with the prong end preferably after the prong end has passed through the plane of the sheet from which the contact was formed.
Inventors
- 👤 L Sheldon
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 08:29
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R25/00; H01R25/003
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
154 words
An electrical contact adapted to receive and frictionally engage a plurality of power blades, said cOntact comprising a generally planar land of metal at least partially surrounding each of a plurality of blade receiving openings, said openings being partially defined by two opposed cams extending at an acute angle out of the general plane of said surrounding land, the direction of extension of a pair of cams out of the plane of a first land being opposite to that of an adjoining land of the same strip, and the edges of said opening subject to stress due to deflection of said cams being shaped to reduce concentration of said stress, and said land being supported to permit deflection thereof accompanying deflection of said cams, the contacting surface of a blade deflected cam lying generally in a plane which is approximately plane parallel to that defining the surface of the blade against which it bears.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
154 words
An electrical contact adapted to receive and frictionally engage a plurality of power blades, said cOntact comprising a generally planar land of metal at least partially surrounding each of a plurality of blade receiving openings, said openings being partially defined by two opposed cams extending at an acute angle out of the general plane of said surrounding land, the direction of extension of a pair of cams out of the plane of a first land being opposite to that of an adjoining land of the same strip, and the edges of said opening subject to stress due to deflection of said cams being shaped to reduce concentration of said stress, and said land being supported to permit deflection thereof accompanying deflection of said cams, the contacting surface of a blade deflected cam lying generally in a plane which is approximately plane parallel to that defining the surface of the blade against which it bears.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
The electrical connector of claim 1 in which a plurality of openings are aligned with a plurality of blade receiving ports of a plastic housing at least two of which are disposed on opposite faces of the plastic housing.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
112 words
A cammed electrical contact said contact comprising a land of conductive spring metal, a generally rectangular opening in said land, a tab of land metal extending from at least one of the longer sides of said opening, at least the major portion of said tab extending below the general plane of said land to form a cam, the end portion of said cam extending further below the plane of said land and having a reverse bend to point the edge of said cam away from said opening, and said cam having a curved outer surface at said reverse bend, said contact being supported at outer portions of said land in a housing.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
112 words
A cammed electrical contact said contact comprising a land of conductive spring metal, a generally rectangular opening in said land, a tab of land metal extending from at least one of the longer sides of said opening, at least the major portion of said tab extending below the general plane of said land to form a cam, the end portion of said cam extending further below the plane of said land and having a reverse bend to point the edge of said cam away from said opening, and said cam having a curved outer surface at said reverse bend, said contact being supported at outer portions of said land in a housing.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
The contact of claim 3 in which the edges of said opening subject to stress due to deflection of said cam are rounded to reduce concentration of said stress.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The contact of claim 3 in which the land is part of a metal strip which includes a plurality of such openings.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
135 words
An electrical connector comprising, a cammed electrical contact said contact comprising a land of conductive spring metal, a generally rectangular opening in said land, a tab of land metal extending from at least one of the longer sides of said opening, at least the major portion of said tab extending below the general plane of said land to form a cam, the end portion of said cam extending further below the plane of said land and having a reverse bend to point the edge of said cam away from said opening, and said cam having a curved outer surface at said reverse bend, said electrical contact being embedded in a yieldable insulating plastic housing, said housing having a blade receiving port aligned for entry of a blade through said opening into contact with said cam.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
135 words
An electrical connector comprising, a cammed electrical contact said contact comprising a land of conductive spring metal, a generally rectangular opening in said land, a tab of land metal extending from at least one of the longer sides of said opening, at least the major portion of said tab extending below the general plane of said land to form a cam, the end portion of said cam extending further below the plane of said land and having a reverse bend to point the edge of said cam away from said opening, and said cam having a curved outer surface at said reverse bend, said electrical contact being embedded in a yieldable insulating plastic housing, said housing having a blade receiving port aligned for entry of a blade through said opening into contact with said cam.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
131 words
An electrical connector comprising a cammed electrical contact said contact comprising a land of conductive spring metal, a generally rectangular opening in said land, a tab of land metal extending from at least one of the longer sides of said opening, at least the major portion of said tab extending below the general plane of said land to form a cam, the end portion of said cam extending further below the plane of said land and having a reverse bend to point the edge of said cam away from said opening, and said cam having a curved outer surface at said reverse bend, an insulating housing, said contact being supported at outer portions of said land in such insulating housing, and a port in the insulating housing communicating with said opening.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
131 words
An electrical connector comprising a cammed electrical contact said contact comprising a land of conductive spring metal, a generally rectangular opening in said land, a tab of land metal extending from at least one of the longer sides of said opening, at least the major portion of said tab extending below the general plane of said land to form a cam, the end portion of said cam extending further below the plane of said land and having a reverse bend to point the edge of said cam away from said opening, and said cam having a curved outer surface at said reverse bend, an insulating housing, said contact being supported at outer portions of said land in such insulating housing, and a port in the insulating housing communicating with said opening.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1707702A
Cited
US2869093A
Cited
US3019406A
Cited
US2965812A
Cited
US3212049A
Cited
US3296576A
Cited
US3241096A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-09-24 | 1977-03-26 | 1977-09-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-09-24 | 1981-03-26 | 1981-09-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-09-24 | 1985-03-26 | 1985-09-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |